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| Start date | Reporting criterion | Title | Event description | System | LER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENS 56931 | 22 January 2024 20:00:00 | Agreement State | Two Suspected Orphan Gauges Found | The following information was provided by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) via email: On January 22, 2024, at approximately 1400, Central Standard Time (CST), an unidentified nuclear gauge of roughly cylindrical dimensions and less than 30 cm in length and 12 cm in width was detected by the entrance gate radiation monitor at the Louisiana Scrap Metal facility (LA Scrap) located in Gibson, LA in Terrebonne Parish. Facility scrap surveyors were immediately dispatched to more close survey the suspected gauge using Ludlum Model 3 survey instruments with external probes. During this time an additional suspected nuclear gauge, similar in design and overall dimensions to the first, was discovered by the facility's scrap surveyors. Surface radiation readings of approximately 0.9 to 1.2 mR/hr were observed at the surface of both devices. No identifying markings, labels or tags were noted on the gauges' surfaces, and both devices appeared to have sustained significant corrosion to their housings, which nonetheless appeared intact. The devices were believed by the reporting party to have originated with scrap from the disassembly of a 220-foot marine vessel purchased by LA Scrap from a Florida scrap broker. The above incident was reported via the LDEQ Radiation Hotline at approximately 1335 CST on January 23, 2024. The facility is awaiting identification of the devices' isotope(s) (to be provided by the LDEQ) prior to contracting with BBP Sales, Louisiana Radioactive Material License, LA-10799-L01, for inspection, leak testing, packaging, and disposal of the devices. The facility environmental health and safety (EHS) manager, stated that the gauges have been enclosed in a bucket of moist dirt and secured within an area on site with restricted access. Facility workers were advised by the EHS manager to stay clear of the area in the meantime. LA Event Report ID: LA240002 | ||
| ENS 47592 | 6 January 2012 16:48:00 | Agreement State | Agreement State Report - Lost Analyzer | The following information was received via facsimile: (The) Environmental Safety Manager of Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling notified the (Louisiana) Department of Environmental Quality of a lost Niton XLI 818 Q/serial number 6066 analyzer with 30 mCi of Am-241 on January 6, 2012. FINDINGS: The investigation was conducted at Louisiana Scrap Metal Recycling in Lafayette. Contact was made with the Environmental Safety Manager and the (Non-Ferrous Manager), who provided the following information of their internal investigation. The facility's investigation revealed that on January 5, 2012, (Employee #1) was scanning a customer's trailer to identify the type metal in the load, with a Niton XLI 818Q/serial number 6066 analyzer with 30 mCi of Am-241. The analyzer was discovered missing the next morning, January 6, 2012 by (Employee #2) at approximately (0900 CST and notified the department at 1048 CST on January 6, 2012 of the missing source. (Employee #2) called (Employee #1) to try to reconstruct his actions of the previous day since he had signed out the analyzer on the utilization log. (Employee #1) stated that he believed that he must have left the analyzer on the trailer of a customer. (Employee #2) called the customer to ask if he had found the analyzer and also the route he took to go home. The customer stated that he had not found the analyzer. (Employee #2) then retraced the route to search for the missing analyzer for approximately eight hours but was not successful. The analyzer is still missing to date, however does not pose a health hazard to the general public. In conclusion the licensee did not secure licensed radioactive material from unauthorized removal or access. The above area is contrary to LAC 33:XV.445.A. The licensee failed to maintain constant surveillance to prevent unauthorized use of licensed radioactive material that is in a controlled or unrestrictive area. The above area is contrary to LAC 33:XV.445.B. The licensee also failed to have the minimum of two independent physical controls that form a tangible barrier to secure portable gauges from unauthorized removal, whenever portable gauges are not under the control and constant surveillance of the licensee. The above area is contrary to LAC 33:XV.326.B. Louisiana Incident Number: LA120002 THIS MATERIAL EVENT CONTAINS A "LESS THAN CAT 3" LEVEL OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL Sources that are "Less than IAEA Category 3 sources," are either sources that are very unlikely to cause permanent injury to individuals or contain a very small amount of radioactive material that would not cause any permanent injury. Some of these sources, such as moisture density gauges or thickness gauges that are Category 4, the amount of unshielded radioactive material, if not safely managed or securely protected, could possibly - although it is unlikely - temporarily injure someone who handled it or were otherwise in contact with it, or who were close to it for a period of many weeks. For additional information go to http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1227_web.pdf This source is not amongst those sources or devices identified by the IAEA Code of Conduct for the Safety & Security of Radioactive Sources to be of concern from a radiological standpoint. Therefore is it being categorized as a less than Category 3 source |